Amerzone is one of the first ever first-person adventure games to offer the full 360 degree view. As a young journalist you are tasked with interviewing Valembois, once an admired professor who has been ridiculed for his unorthodox theories. Instead he tells you about an extraordinary trip to Amerzone which started his scientific downfall and asks you to return an egg of the legendary White Bird that he had stolen all those years ago.

A dozen years ago Amerzone pioneered the transition of first-person adventure gaming to the full 360 degree view. You guide your protagonist in the steps of the professor, solving riddles mostly to do with finding a way to proceed onward to the fabled land of Amerzone. The puzzles come in both environmental and mini-game varieties, though the former prevail. The difficulty level is a bit on the easy side, making Amerzone perfect for the more casual crowd on the iDevice.

What immediately draws you into the game is the atmosphere. Amerzone is easily one of the most charming games I’ve ever played, telling the story of the young Valembois’ foolishness through notes, journals and a few well-placed colourful characters. When I finished the adventure (which isn’t especially long) I almost felt a stray tear or two trickle out of the corner of my eye.

Of course, what was the pinnacle of visual quality back in 1999 is far from PS3 quality graphics. Still, even now it more than holds up to the competition. As an added bonus, the game can be played on both the iPhone and iPad in one superb universal package. The interface works perfectly and all the hotspots are highlighted for easy reference. Using the inventory is completely intuitive, with the documents especially warranting your attention if you really want to get into the spirit of Amerzone.

While not perfect Amerzone was Benoit Sokal’s first sketch of what would come in his eventual world-famous titles. The unique atmosphere sucks you into the story of righting the wrong of Valembois’ mistakes and saving the great White Birds. One of the most charming games ever, Amerzone is perfectly suited towards mainstream iOS gamers, though some may find it a bit too easy and a tad short. But even if you’re a die-hard adventure games fan, it would be a crime to miss the game that started Sokal’s rise to fame.

With this I declare Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy officially touched!